Meditation is a practice to calm the mind and body, often involving focus and relaxation techniques. Mindfulness is a form of meditation where you pay full attention to the present moment, noticing your thoughts and feelings without judging them.
Mindfulness invites us to tune into the present moment by fully acknowledging our environment and bodily sensations. In contrast, meditation serves as a mental exercise that harnesses our wandering thoughts, guiding them to a place of tranquility. Despite their common goal of promoting well-being, while mindfulness emphasizes heightened consciousness, meditation fosters a state of singular, concentrated contemplation.
A state of meditation can be achieved through mindfulness. But you can also establish a mindful lifestyle through meditation techniques, for example. A distinction must be made between meditation as a state of mind and the techniques that are intended to lead to it.
Meditation is a broader practice that involves techniques to focus the mind and achieve a state of calm and clarity, often through seated or guided sessions. Mindfulness is a form of meditation that emphasizes being present and fully engaged in the current moment, aware of thoughts, feelings, and sensations without judgment.